BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[cubs]

I don't know how you could say a team that put up the offensive numbers WW did last year, and with those 2 pitchers could be one of the weakest national champions in recent memory.

Those of us that frequent the WIAC boards should remember who the source of that "information" was (titan2000.)  I for one don't put a lot of weight in his ramblings about rats, TVD fishing, etc...

[cubs]

Last year, Whitewater went into the NCAA III playoffs ranked #1 in the country even though they lost the WIAC postseason title to Stevens Point and went on to sweep its way through the tournament on the way to the 2005 NCAA III Title. 

Whitewater's 2005 team was special, which is why they were able to win the whole thing.  As I've said before there isn't a pitcher on any WIAC team that could come close to what Reinhard or Tomasiewicz did last year.  If there was, I would make that pitchers team the favorite to win the Conference Tournament this season.

[Gustie13]

Hello WIACers..
As an avid follower of the MIAC and Midwest Region baseball I believe I can honestly say, for the first time since UST won the natl title in 2001, that the MIAC is the strongest league in the region this year. The MIAC went 8-3 vs the WIAC this year (true, 4 of those wins were against lowly UW Superior), but more impressively the 4 MIAC playoff teams went 3-0 vs the 4 WIAC playoff teams, including Gustavus' 8-5 win over reg season champ UW Whitewater and staff ace Mike Jacobsen.

The strength of the MIAC this year is undoubtedly the pitching; 6 pitchers with over 30 innings pitched recorded eras under 2.50 (vs 2 in the WIAC). After losing Player of the Year Brett Olsen and Pitcher of the Year Brian Krause UST added 2 stud freshmen pitchers in Dan Leslie and Erik Olsen, while St Olaf has 4 top flight pitchers in Sr. Eric Tobias, Sr. Dan O'Malley, So. Paul Johnson, and Fr. Todd Mathison who in his first season of conf play did not yield an earned run in 31 innings pitched. Gustavus is led, as always, by Seniors Josh Spitzack and Andy Schmidt, and Hamline's staff leans heavily on Sr. Kyle Foster and So. Josh Roiger. As evidence of the strong pitching I point to the new record for team conference ERA; a record which had been held by the 1991 St Olaf team (1.87) for 15 years before being broken by both the 2006 St Olaf (1.77) and UST (1.64) staffs.

Hitting on MIAC squads is very different than on WIAC teams: Gustavus Jr. Tony Konicek (who should easily be conf player of the year) led the league with a .475 average, with 7 others also above .400 (vs 3 in the WIAC). However, you don't see nearly the run production in the MIAC that you do in the WIAC; League leaders in runs, RBIs, and HRs in the MIAC fell short of their WIAC counterparts (50 v 35 for runs, 48 v 44 for RBI, and 12 v 8 for HR), and team power numbers in the WIAC dwarfed those in the MIAC (346 runs for UWW v 244 for Hamline, 47 HR for USP v 18 for Gustavus, and .505 slug% for USP v .474 slug% for Gustavus).

I don't have much respect for the other leagues in the Midwest regions (MWC, LMC, & UMAC) or their leaders (Ripon, Edgewood, or College of St. Scholastica) because of how poor the competition is for them in their leagues. I'd give the MIAC a 50/50 chance of having its representative(s) win the Region, the WIAC 30/70 and CSS 20/80. No way Ripon or Edgewood win more than a single game in Regions.

This message isn't meant to be derogatory (well, at least not towards WIACers) its just my opinion of the balance of power in the region. I've often said to my friends that the WIAC is the best baseball conference in the nation, however, this year I feel the MIAC is stronger.

If anyone has a similar run down of the WIAC from the WIAC side of things I'd love to hear it.

Good Luck and Go Gusties!

[POUNDTHEROCK]

Does anyone on this board know why the WIAC made the decision to move the baseball tournament to a nuetral site in Wisconsin Rapids.
I know only four teams make the tournament,and would think that it would generate more revenue,and more home team fans if they just had the tournament at the school who won the conference. Sort of like the reward for them winning the conference. I know that it may not seem fair,and that not all of the schools have two baseball fields on campus, but most have another place they can play.
Such as Whitewater the high school and then the on campus field. Not to mention Whitewater has the best dam gounds crew manager Brezowitz in all of the WIAC.
In 2003 they most likely wouldn't ave played the tournament at UWW if it wasn't for him, as he was at the fileds at seven thirty raking them,and getting them ready.
Any insight into this would be much appreciated.I just think that the team that wins the conference should host the conference tournament. Even if it's in the same place every year such as Oshkosh or Whitewater.

[Just Bill]

A few things came together to put the WIAC tournament in Wisconsin Rapids.

In 2004 when Whitewater hosted, they used Whitewater HS as the second field.  Unfortunately, the field was swamped with rain the week before and even after three days of work it was poor shape.  The games also got pushed late in the day which forced Point and La Crosse to drive down the road to Jefferson to play a game under the lights.  One of the parents of a La Crosse player happened to be from Rapids.  He approached the Rapids visitors bureau and the mayor about bidding to host the WIAC Tournament.  They put together a proposal and set up a meeting with the WIAC commish.

At that time the WIAC was trying to solve a few problems.  They didn't like the fact that we were playing two games of the WIAC Tournament on substandard fields (WW HS, Bukolt Park in SP).  They wanted a facility with lights so that they would have more time to get games in, in case of weather delays, but no WIAC shcool has lights.  The WIAC was also shopping around the possibility of playing the WIAC basketball tournament at a neutral site, and the thought was that the proposal from Rapids could be a test run for a neutral site championship.

The coaches weren't crazy about it either, but they decided to give Rapids a two-year run to see what it would be like.  This is the second year.  Personally, I went last year and thought the Rapids put on a great show.  Even with the rain, they were able to play the first six games on one field in a two day span.  As a fan, I enjoyed being able to see every game of the tournament and not having to split my attention between two fields.

[cubs]

Such as Whitewater the high school and then the on campus field. Not to mention Whitewater has the best dam gounds crew manager Brezowitz in all of the WIAC.
In 2003 they most likely wouldn't ave played the tournament at UWW if it wasn't for him, as he was at the fileds at seven thirty raking them,and getting them ready.

If you think 7:30 is early, try coming up to Oshkosh in April when the players have been clearing snow off the field/tarp for a NC game against St. Scholastica at 6:00/6:30 on a Sunday morning. 

As far as best grounds crew manager, I have a feeling Brezowitz's attention is on the football field in the summer, while Lechnir is busy working on Tiedemann.  I think many would agree, Tiedemann has the best playing surface of any school in the conference.  In addition they have the Major League size infield tarp in case of poor weather.  (Does anyone else in the WIAC have a full size infield tarp?)   When/if they get lights (neighbors objecting right now) I would not be surprised if they put in a bid to host the Conference Tourney.

[janesvilleflash]

I remember when Eau Claire's field at Carson Park was sweet, but I buy Tiedemann being the best now days.

[badgerwarhawk]

We have tarps which cover the entire infield. 

Does anyone else have a helicopter?   I know Oshkosh has the EAA but what about a helicopter?  lol

[POUNDTHEROCK]

Badgerwarhawk,
I forgot about the helicopter idea of Brez's I think it was Brez that thought up that idea, and just had to get the NCAA to agree to pay for it.

[Just Bill]

It might take more than a helicopter to play this weekend in Rapids.  Forecast calls for 50s and showers.  It looks like Friday and Saturday could both be in jeopardy.

Maybe they can call Superior and see if they can pull off that Metrodome deal again like they did for the Whitewater series.

[Just Bill]

Friday's games have been postponed to Saturday.  Read all about it-  http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/baseball/06trnyppd.html

[POUNDTHEROCK]

If the rainy weather conitnues through the entire weekend. Who from the conference would get the automatic bid then. Wouls it be Whitewater because they won the regular season.
Also what do you think the chances of the warhawks if they get the automatic bid  to host the regiopnals of the world series.

[Just Bill]

I believe they would first switch to single-elimination format.  If the tournament can't be completed, then the highest seed yet to be eliminated would get the automatic bid.  So, if no games were played at all, Whitewater would get the bid as the #1 seed.

[BigPoppa]

I hope it clears... nothing more competitive than the WIAC baseball tourney.

[badgerwarhawk]

Maybe they can call Superior and see if they can pull off that Metrodome deal again like they did for the Whitewater series.

It was WHITEWATER[/color] that put the MetroDome deal together.  Superior had nothing to do with it. 

One of our parents works in the Twin front office and when it became apparent completing the series was going to be a problem she contacted the coaching staff to see if they would be interested.  When they said they would be she made another phone call and the deal was done.  Convincing Superior to go along with it was somewhat of a problem though, in the end, they were agreeable.

I think the tournament has be completed by a certain time on Sunday because of the selection process.